Views sought on vaccination and screening services

Public Health launches four week survey

Residents are being asked to give their views and share their experiences of vaccinations and screening services on the Island as part of a new survey.

Public Health says it wants people's perceptions of services here, where they prefer to access those services, any barriers to accessing them, and what improvements could be made.

It says the results will be used to help in the creation of a new strategy for vaccinations and screening.

The survey will take between 20-30 minutes to complete.

You can find a link to the online survey HERE.

Paper copies will be available at the Southern and Western Wellbeing Centres and the Ramsey and Douglas Libraries.

Director of Public Health Dr Matt Tyrer says: ‘Screening and vaccinations are a core aspect of preventative healthcare, saving millions of lives a year. This survey will allow us to understand how we can improve people’s access to, and experience of, using these vital services.

‘Our new Public Health Strategy for 2025-2030 sets out our desire to work with local residents to improve the way we do things and this survey gives residents the opportunity to have their say.

‘We are particularly interested in discovering whether there are any barriers to service access. This will help us to develop plans to increase the accessibility of routine vaccination and screening programmes which can protect our communities from a wide range of infectious diseases. They also ensure that certain health conditions can be picked up before symptoms develop to ensure people have the best possible chance of being treated effectively.’

Cabinet Office Minister David Ashford says: ‘One of the core objectives of our Island Plan is to protect the health and wellbeing of Island residents. A strategic approach to these key aspects of preventative healthcare means we are putting the Island in a stronger position to be able to fight off disease and ill health.

‘There have been many changes in screening and vaccination programmes in the Island over the years and the valuable feedback we get from people on their experiences, what works and what doesn’t, will lead to a more informed strategy for the future. I look forward to seeing the end result.’